Sep-01
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN TROUBLE COMES?
or
(CONFIDENCE IN THE MIDST OF A CRISIS)
PSALMS 46:1-11 (91:1-9)
America was struck with the worst tragedy in history this past Tuesday morning just before 9:00 A.M... With out any warning or reasoning, thousands of lives were taken… (Recap the events…) But the question that we as believers need to address today is: “What Do You Do… When Trouble Comes?” In other words, how do you respond…? How do you react…? What exactly is the correct measure… What are the appropriate steps that must be taken… If we are to make it through… When trouble comes…? (Title) When trouble comes; you need to know how to deal with it, because in actuality, you don’t have a choice…!
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or (But I believe that what the Lord was really trying to teach us is that we as Christians should all have Confidence: In The Midst of A Crisis…! Webster’s Dictionary defines the word crisis as; “a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events is determined.” In other words, a turning point…!)
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Our text here presents us with three fundamental issues that we need to consider if we are to survive during this time of trouble and uncertainty… It lends to us, the advantage of how to overcome the adversary… It sheds light on what we need to do… When trouble comes…! If you want to make it through tough times… If you want to make it when trouble comes… You must first remember that...
I. HE’S STILL GOD; OUR PROTECTOR
(V1-3) What a profound statement this is in verse one… God is our refuge…. (God is…) In other words, God is a safe place… A safety zone… A shelter from danger... The old folks used to say; “He’s a shelter in the time of storm…” I don’t know about you, but I’ve had some storms in my life… I’ve had some troubled times in this life… I’ve had some times where it seemed like I wasn’t going to make it… Some times when I didn’t know whether I was coming or going… Some times when I didn’t know which way was up…! But I’m glad that I had a refuge… I’m glad that I had a place of shelter… For not only does the text inform us that He’s our refuge… But Psalms 91 tells me that…
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide… Under the shadow of the Almighty… For He is my refuge… And my fortress… In Him will I trust…” What I’m trying to say is that … “I’ve got a secret place…! I’ve got a shelter…! And when things get bad, I can run to the secret place…!” (“Who Can I Run To?”) I can run to God… Because He is…!
Because that’s where He can keep me… That’s where He can rock in the cradle of His loving arms and keep me from hurt, harm and danger…! Everybody ought to have a secret place…! When trouble comes your way, just remember that He is still God; Our Protector… And run to the secret place…! Run to the shelter…! When you remember that He is our Protector, you’ll realize that the Lord covers us in times of despair… He is our haven… Our sanctuary…
The place in which we can find a sweet relief…! I believe that’s what Martin Luther was trying to tell us…When he penned the words to the wonderful hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God…!” (Tell somebody, “He’s is our refuge…!”)
Not only is the Lord is our refuge, but likewise we see that He is our strength… (Text) He’s our refuge and our strength… The word and is a conjunction word that connects two or more phrases together… So to get the proper connotation of what the writer is trying to say, you’ve got to connect it together…! God is our refuge AND our strength…! But why does the Lord protect us in times of trouble…? He protects us not to hide us, but to help us… (You missed it) He gives us a shelter not to pamper us, but to prepare us... The Lord gives us refuge in order to get us ready for the battle… How does He do that…? (Glad you asked)
By giving us an infusion of His strength… By infusing us with His strength, we’re able to stand in the midst of trouble… Every now and then, God has to vaccinate us so that we’ll be able to withstand the enemy…! (Explain)… Just like you trust the doctor… You must trust the Lord… And let Him infuse you with His strength…! God is our refuge… God is our strength… But most of all, the He is our help...!
(Watch this…) He’s not just our help, but I believe the text says He’s..."a very present help in trouble..." The word present affirms to us the fact that we serve a right now God... It means that the Lord’s help is immediately available to us whenever we are in trouble…! The word crisis literally means a turning point…And the world with all its splendor offers to us all kinds of (crisis) turning points. (Financially, Physically, and Emotionally)… Furthermore, it offers all kinds of solutions and answers…
But the problem is that it seldom delivers…! But the God I serve is not a God who did wonderful things in the past…But can do nothing now… Nor is He a God who will do great things in the future, but can do nothing now. But my God is a Present Tense God...! He can walk right on the scene of our lives and make a difference right now…! I heard somebody say, “He’s an On Time God…!” If you don’t believe me, you better ask Daniel… You better ask the 3 Hebrew Boys… I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in some tight places… I’ve been in some trouble… But I’ve tried Him and I’ve found out (v 1)… And because He is our Refuge… Strength… Very Present Help… Look at what vs. 2-3 tell us… We don’t have to fear though the earth will be removed…Though the mountains will be dumped into the sea… Though the waters are troubled… Though the mountains shake…
(Maybe I better make this thing personal…)
Though friends are few, and enemies are many…
Though I can’t seem to make it over the hump…
Though my wife may not be speaking to me…
Though my children seem to be acting funny…
Though I may have problems on the job…
Though I may heave problems in school…
Though it seems like I can’t get a prayer through… Though it seems that the enemy has focused all his efforts on me… I will not fear… Because God is… (V 1)
And I know that He’s able to show up right in the middle of all of the many ‘though situations’ in my life… And make everything all right…! (Title) You’ve got to remember that He’s Still God; Our Protector…! Not only that, but when trouble comes, we need remember that…
II. HE’S STILL GOD; OUR PROVIDER
(V 4-7) [V4] In ancient times, the rivers were very valuable resources. They were essential to sustaining the people’s lives by making agriculture possible and facilitating trade with other cities. But the problem was that Jerusalem didn’t have a river...
Its only water supply was the Spring of Gihon, which fed the stream of Shiloum… And knowing that their enemies would cut off their water supply, Hezekiah beat them to the punch…
He wisely beat them to the punch and closed off the springs outside of the city and channeled the water through an underground tunnel so that Jerusalem could have water even through a long siege... (You missed it...!) Even though they were under attack, Jerusalem still had water flowing on the inside where the enemy could not see…
The Lord was in the midst of that underground water source… And He provided what was needed... (Tell somebody, “He will provide…!”) For as I continue to travel on life’s journey, I’m learning more and more each day that the Lord has also provided a river…!
He has provided a river for us in times of crisis...! And just like Jerusalem’s river… It’s flowing on the inside… You see, the Lord has provided us with Living Water...!
For I heard Jeremiah say (17:13) “God the Father is the Fountain of Living Water…” And John adds commentary by letting us know that (4:14) “Jesus is the Fountain of Living Water…Then Jesus further affirms (7:37-39) that "The Holy Spirit is the River of Living Water…!"
(Title) Make sure that you tap into your source… Make sure that you tap into the inside source...
Make sure that you tap into the Holy Spirit…! For when you tap into the Holy Spirit, God will allow the Spirit to supply your every need…!
For I heard the Apostle Paul say, “My God will supply your every need… According to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus…(Phil 4:19)!” So many times, we depend on outside resources to satisfy…Things like, money, prestige, activity, and amusements… All of these things can be cut off and lost in your life... But the good news from Heaven today is that even if you lost everything on the outside… Health… Money… Prestige… You would still have a river…!
You still have The Holy Spirit…! And all you’ve got to do is tap into the source…(Tell Somebody) Tap into the things of God… And remember that He’s Still God; Our Protector… He’s Still God; Our Provider…! Finally, if you’re going to have Confidence In The Midst Of A Crisis... You’ve got to remember that…
III. HE’S STILL GOD; THE PROVEN ONE
(V 8-11) The glorious thing about this point is that you’ll realize that He is the Proven One during times of crisis when you do two things…
1. Reflect On His Power… (V 8-9)
"Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolation in the earth…He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth he breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two he burns the chariot in the fire...”
(Reflect on His Power) Come… Behold… The wondrous works of the Lord… (Tell Neighbor) Come… Behold… The many times that He’s brought you through dangers seen and unseen… Come… Behold… The Goodness of the Lord…
Reflect on how God has given you victory in the past... Reflect on how He’s brought you out… In times of storm… When you get in trouble and think you just can’t make it through… Just remember that He hasn’t brought this far to leave you…!
You see, as you begin to reflect on his Goodness…. He’ll begin to revive your spirit… He’ll begin to rejuvenate your will to go on…
And as a result, you can say what Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…” (Phil 4:13) I can get through whatever adversities that I may be dealing with… All you’ve got to do is reflect in His Power…! All I’ve got to do is remember what He’s done in time’s past…
2. Rest On His Power... (Vs. 10-11)
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth…! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
(Rest On His Power) "Be Still...” means literally, relax and take your hands off… “Be Still…” And let God do what He does best…! “Be Still…” And watch God move on your behalf…
“Be Still…” And remember that He’s Still God; The Proven One…! (Title) Just “Be Still…” For in the time of trouble… I heard Him tell Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20:17) “There’s no need for you to fight… Stand Still… Be Still… And see the salvation of the Lord…!” For in the time of trouble…I heard Him tell Moses (Ex. 14:13) “Don’t be afraid, just Stand Still… And see the salvation of the Lord… For the enemy that you see now… You shall never see him again…!” Tell somebody, “Be Still…!”
And watch God move…!” Be Still…! And know… That He is God... Be Still…! And know…That He is with us…! Be Still…! And know… That He will be Exalted…! (I’m through, but one last thing…)
Notice here that three times the psalmist uses the word, Selah... It is a technical musical term that denotes a reflective pause… The word literally means to lift up, to exalt... When trouble comes… You’ve got to remember that…
I. He’s Still God; Our Protector
II. He’s Still God; Our Provider
III. He’s Still God; The Proven One
But most of all… You’ve got to shout Selah … You’ve got to Praise Him for who He is and all that He’s done…! You’ve got to lift Him up… You’ve got to exalt His Name…
Maybe He hasn’t done anything for you… But as for me, when I think of the Goodness of Jesus… I‘ve got to Praise Him…! Because He’s been so good to me…!
I‘ve got to Praise Him…!
I‘ve got to Love Him…!
I‘ve got to Honor Him…!
I‘ve got to Bless Him…!
